Hello Friends! Here is the edited version of Chapter 16. Thanks to WyrdFyre for being my beta like always :)
Set list:
You Matter To Me, Waitress
Warnings at end of chapter
WATER 7
"Come ON guys! I know this thing can move faster!" I shouted at the crew as they casually tended to the sails.
Seriously Water 7 is RIGHT THERE, and they're just moseying around the deck like there is no rush.
"What is going on with you? It's usually Ace who is dying to get to the next island." Skull said, walking over to where I was standing near the fore deck railing.
"Water 7 is an island that I actually enjoy being on, so excuse me if I am eager to be there, rather than on this tub with all you stinking men." I said with a hair flip.
"Stinking? That's so mean Ari! I bathe regularly!"
"You might, but can you honestly say that the same is true for the rest of the rag-tag bunch of degenerates that Ace has collected?"
Skull looked ready to argue more, but thought better of it and just said, "Ok, fair enough."
"Exactly so-" I started to say before I was interrupted.
"What's goin' on Air? The boys said you were getting a bit antsy up here." Ace said, walking up to the foredeck where Skull and I were.
Oh shit, I am so not ready to deal with him yet…
"Um- nothing really, I just want to get to the next island is all." I said, trying not to let my eyes fall to the floor or my shoulders to hunch inward.
"Ari really likes this island!" Skull interjected helpfully.
Shut up you asshole! Just let him walk away!
"Oh yea? What makes this place special? I've never even seen you care when we've made landfall before." Ace said while putting his hand on his hat.
Why are you still here! Leave me alone!
"This place is just kind of fun is all." I said with a half shrug.
"Huh. But isn't this the place you said we could get a new ship made?"
Skull decided to jump back into the conversation then by saying, "Yes Captain! Water 7 is renowned for their shipwrights and engineering! So if you want to get a new ship- which I would suggest- then we should do it here."
"Right." Ace said while nodding. Then he turned to me and said, "You've been here before Air, do you know any good ship builders?"
Oh shit, he's talking to me again! Ok, just be cool Ari! You're fine!
"Um, well Tom's workers were the best on the island, but last I heard Tom was killed a few years back. Maybe we could find one of his apprentices? But honestly anything built here will be better than this ship." I said.
"She has taken a bit of a beating, hasn't she?" Ace said, turning to look over the rest of the ship.
The ship was still in relatively good repair. Meaning that it still had all of its sails and could still float. But not much could be said besides that.
"I told you, ships built in the east don't last here. But this one has at least stood up better than the caravel ship you wanted to take would have."
"I know, I know! But it doesn't matter now. We can just get a better one here."
Skull stepped up once again and said, "I'll handle finding a new ship Captain! Don't worry, I've heard a lot about Water 7, so I should be able to find us a fine vessel."
"That'd be great! Thanks, Skull! Then if you're handling that, then you can show me what makes this place so special Air!" Ace said with a blinding smile.
Oh no, not the smile!
I'm not ready yet!
"Oh um, sure. I- I- I- um, I guess I could do that." I stammered out.
"Are you ok? You've been acting a little weird these last few days." Ace said, looking intently at me.
"I'M fine! I just wanna- you know- I'll see you on the island!" I said before tuning and diving over the railing.
Ugh, that was so awkward.
After swimming quickly to the wooden shore of Scrap Heap Island, I had made my way toward the back streets.
You seriously need to get it together Ari. You know what you have to do. You know what you want to do. And it'll be fine. You trust Ace, right?
Well - not all that much really, but he hasn't given you any reason to distrust him has he?
No, he hasn't.
So it'll be fine, you just have to put on your big girl pants, or take them off rather, and get it over with.
I was walking along the side of a canal, lost in my own thoughts, when something grabbed the sleeve of my jacket. I whipped around to deal with the person who would dare to touch me when I came face to grinning face with a yagara. It was a bright green fish with a tall white fin going down the back of its head and neck. When I turned to look at it, it smiled even wider and gave its signature whiny-squeal at me.
Oh no.
OH NO.
I can't stop it!
No!
"YOU ARE THE CUTEST LITTLE THING I HAVE EVER SEEN!" I absolutely screeched. The adorable yagara responded with its own delighted squeal.
I reached out to pet the precious little baby and ended up hugging its tall neck.
"You are so cute!" I giggled while the fish licked up the side of my face, which caused me to squeal right along with it. "Do you wanna be my new friend baby? We can go on adventures together and I'll feed you lots of water water meat and I'll give you all the pets you could ever want!"
As I was cooing over the yagara a few more came over to see what the first one was getting. I was quickly surrounded by about five yagaras all squealing for pets.
"Oh! You have friends! Hi babies! Don't worry, I can give all of you scritches!" I said with a cheek splitting smile on my face as I pet and hugged all the yagaras.
Oh Water 7 you are the greatest island to ever exist! Not only is there water EVERYWHERE but you have blessed this world with endless amounts of the sweetest, most amazing animals to ever exist!
I love you Water 7!
The yagaras were all licking my face while giving their adorable whinny, squeal sounds. I kept on petting the adorable creatures and over all, enjoying my little slice of heaven. That is until I heard a voice from behind me.
"What the hell are you doing?"
When I heard that I jumped away from the smiling yagaras and turned to see Ace, Skull, and Deuce all staring at me as if I had lost my mind.
"Oh, hi guys! I didn't see you there! Eh... how long have you been standing there?" I asked with a nervous chuckle.
Damn it, they saw!
"Long enough to see you losing it over the fish." Deuce said.
"Well, um… They needed pets. Not that I wanted to pet them or anything… They- they NEEDED it. Like to live and stuff." I awkwardly cleared my throat as the yagaras nipped at me for more pets. "Right. So were you guys able to find a new ship for us?"
"Um- yea." Deuce said, awkwardly eyeing the yagaras.
"There's this new ship-building company that covers pretty much all the docks and, apparently, they're the best now. Anyways, they have a nice new ship all ready to go so we are just getting a new figurehead and a few more adjustments made." Skull said as he walked over to pet one of the yagaras.
See? It's not just me. The fishies need pets to live...
"I didn't know that the shipwrights had been unified. When did that happen?" I said.
"Late last year. Have you heard of a guy named Iceberg?"
"Heard of him but never met him. I think he used to be one of Tom's apprentices. But if he's in charge, then things must be going pretty good here. I was never too concerned with the ship building aspects of this island, but as far as I know he was more than competent."
"Yea you must have been more concerned with these fishy things." Ace said, causing me to blush bright red all the way down my neck. "What are these things anyways?"
"They're called yagaras. They are the main mode of transportation here in Water 7. Pretty much everyone has one." Skull said from his spot near the yagaras.
"That's cool." He said while petting the one that had originally nipped at me.
Ace petting a yagara…
I think I might actually swoon!
"Yea they're really cute too." I said absentmindedly.
"Oh yea? So do you think they're cuter than me Air?" He asked with his devilish smirk firmly in place.
"What? I- um, how am I supposed to compare you to a fish?" I stammered while looking at the ground as I felt my face burn even brighter.
Obviously he is, but I can't just say that!
Ace burst out laughing, and then asked, "So what are you doing Air? You know this island best, so you must know all the good spots to eat."
"I was kind of just wandering around-"
"And petting random fish." Skull interjected.
"BUT, if you want I know of a good little hole in the wall place if you're- who am I kidding? Of course you're hungry. Anyways, I don't know if the old fart that runs it will be able to make enough to satisfy you or if he is even still alive. But his food is really good." I said.
"That works for me! Alright Skull, Deuce get lost." Ace said with an even bigger smile.
"What! Captain! We want food too!" Skull whined.
"No! I finally get to be alone with Ari so you guys can't be third wheeling!"
"But there's 2 of us so technically we would be the third and fourth wheels which would make a full cart." Deuce said while rubbing his chin.
"Ugh just go away!" Ace said with a dramatic groan.
"Alright, alright, no need to get testy. They're going." I said with a smirk.
He does make a good point though...
"Yea ok fine, we'll let you two go do your annoying couple things." Deuce said.
Ace smirked and said, "You're just jealous that I don't have to pay for the company of a beautiful woman."
"ACE!" I shouted as he turned to walk away.
But I guess it is nice to hear him call be beautiful even if it was in a bit of a roundabout way...
"Hey old man, are you still alive down there?" I shouted down to the small boat bobbing in the canal.
Ace and I jumped down from the retaining wall and looked around for a second before I spotted the old man in question passed out on the deck of his tiny restaurant boat.
"You sure this old guy can cook? Doesn't look like he can do much more than drink." Ace said.
"Well he could when I was here about 6 years ago. But let me try something." I said before I used my fruit to pick up a large bubble of water from the canal and dropping it on the passed out drunk.
"WHat- wha- what's going on? What happened? Where am I? Who are you? WHERE'S MY BOOZE?" The old man shouted in rapid succession as he flailed around looking for the bottle in his hand.
"Take it easy old timer. We just wanted some lunch." Ace said in a placating voice.
"Huh? What do you want?"
"Food. But if you can't handle that, then we can go elsewhere." I said with a smile.
"Oh-ho I didn't see you there miss! Please have a seat, what can I get for you?" The old man said with a lecherous grin on his face.
Oh? So this is how he wants to play it? Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to play it up a bit if it might mean free food. After all, paying to keep Ace fed is seriously killing my wallet...
"Whatever you recommend. And a hefty discount if you wouldn't mind." I said as I batted my eyelashes.
The man's face went even redder than it had been as he said, "WHOO! How could I ever even think to charge a lady as lovely as you! It's on the house of course."
"Awh thanks gramps, you're a peach." I said as Ace and I both climbed into the boat and took a seat.
"Old man better watch his wandering eyes before I decide to take care of them for him." Ace said under his breath.
I lightly smacked his chest and said, "Oh hush you. We're getting free food out of him."
"Yea but we could have free food anywhere we want if you could just keep up with me!"
"It's not a matter of keeping up, it's a matter of not drawing unnecessary attention to ourselves!" I said.
"Ugh I can't help it! Paying for food is just so stupid." Ace whined.
"Paying for- how else would you get food?"
Ok I know that he loves to run out on the bill but has he seriously never paid for food before?
"You just take it. If you want regular food then you just find some wild animals and if you want fancy food, then you find a fat cook. It's as easy as that."
I stared at him with narrowed eyes for a minute before saying, "Ok, I have questions about your upbringing. Because that is NOT how the world works honeybun."
"Why not? If that's what you do then that is how the world works right?" He said as if what he just said had made any sense at all.
"I... guess?" I said just as the old man set down a few bowls of fried rice.
Ace immediately dug in and after finishing one bowl he said, "This stuff is good, but not as good as your cooking Air."
"Well thanks, but we still need to find an actual chef for our crew."
"I thought you were the chef?"
"I hate cooking."
"But you're so good at it?" He said with confusion written all over his stuffed cheeks.
Fuck, he is adorable! Just look at those freckles!
"Yea but that doesn't mean I enjoy it. I just always find myself around chefs out of happenstance, not because I seek them out." I said with a slight eye roll.
"You always find yourself around chefs? How does that work?"
"I don't really know, it just kind of happened once and then kept happening. So back when I was sailing with Whitebeard I made friends with their head chef and so I spent most of my time around him. So I was in the kitchen helping out a lot. Then after I left their ship I went to apprentice under another crew that was absolutely obsessed with food. Literally OBSESSED."
"'Obsessed' seems like a strong word."
Like you can talk mister 5 bowls of rice before I've even eaten half of one.
"Yes, but it's also fitting. Their crew rules over a huge archipelago and all the islands are themed after certain types of food." I said.
Ace's jaw dropped and he said, "Ok, that sounds awesome. We need to go."
"No, we don't."
"Why not? If you sailed with them then they must like you, right? Besides, even if they don't we can just beat them up."
Just beat up Big Mom. Yea ok, that would go over so well.
"Yea no. They did like me, but I wasn't exactly on the best terms with the captain when I left, and she kind of hates me as a result. So because I would rather avoid being killed, we should steer very clear of that archipelago."
And you would most definitely die if you ever ran into her.
"If the captain wants to kill you - then why did she let you sail with them."
"Long story very short, she used to sail with my mother and I may have spun a little white lie about her sending me to train there as a favor to her. ANYWAYS, enough about me I would much rather dig through your past. I feel like all I ever do is talk about myself. Which isn't something I usually mind, but we've been sailing together for months now and I still feel like I barely know you."
And I would very much like to get off this topic.
Ace swallowed his bite, before looking over to the old chef who had once again passed out. Then he looked back to me and asked, "What do you want to know?"
"Just the general stuff. I know ALL about your little brother Luffy so feel free to skip that little monologue, but what about the rest of your family? How did you end up in the care of Garp? I know about your dad and Luffy, but that is pretty much it."
"Oh, um- well. I was born in the South Blue, not the East, and I lived there until I was 5. Then Garp picked me up one day and took me to Dawn Island. That's pretty much it." He said with a shrug.
"Really? You expect me to believe that that is all there is to your backstory? What about your mom? You mentioned that she died, but that's all."
"That's pretty much it. She was always pretty sickly from what little I remember of her, something about it being a rough pregnancy. But then she died about a week after we heard about that asshole Roger being executed."
"So your mom died, and then Garp took you to Dawn."
"Pretty much."
"How much do you remember about your mom?"
"Not much, but I do remember that she had really long hair. I think it was reddish blonde? But it might have just been regular blonde. She always had a hibiscus flower in her hair though. Every day. It's funny, I don't remember her face or the sound of her voice, but I can remember the way she smelled. I can't really put it into words, but I can perfectly recall how her dress would smell on a summer day when she would give me a hug." Ace said with a small smile.
"Sounds like you really loved her."
"Yea… I did…"
"I'm guessing that Portgas is her maiden name?"
"It was her only name. Roger never married her. But she died for me, so the least I can do is honor her by taking her name."
"Guess that's just one more thing that we have in common then."
Ace chuckled "Guess so."
And on that note, we should probably move this along so I can stop stressing about what I have to do.
I smiled back at him for a minute before I said, "Well if you are done eating do you want to get out of here? I was planning on staying in town if you would like to join me."
It's now or never, so we might as well just get this out of the way...
Ace and I'd found a hotel in the backstreets that had a nice view of the shopping district. We had gone up to the room and as Ace was heading for the door when I called out to him, "Uh hey Ace could we maybe stay here for a little bit?"
No going back now...
He stopped and turned back to me and said, "Why do you want to stay here? Isn't this your favorite island?"
"Yea it is. But there's something that I've been wanting to talk to you about for a while now." I said, looking down and wringing my hands.
Ace walked over and put one hand on my shoulder and the other on my chin, lifting my face gently to look at him.
"Are you okay? You've been acting pretty weird ever since those bounty hunters attacked us."
"I- I- um, I'm fine. You know I'm not good with words when it comes to things like this, so I wrote a song. If you don't mind I'd like to sing it for you."
"Course Air, you know I always love your singing." He said before kissing me softly
I smiled weakly and pulled away from him. Then I picked up my guitar and sat on the foot of the bed. Ace sat next to me and put one of his hands on the bed behind me. I looked at him and smiled again before I started to sing.
I could find the whole meaning of life in those sad eyes
They've seen things you never quite say, but I hear
Come out of hiding, I'm right here beside you
And I'll stay there as long as you'll let me
Because you matter to me
Simple and plain
and not much to ask from somebody
You matter to me
I promise you do, you, you matter too
I promise you do, you'll see
You matter to me
It's addictive the minute you let yourself think
The things that I say just might matter to someone
All of this time I've been keeping my mind on the running away
And for the first time, I think I'd consider the stay
Because you matter to me
Simple and plain and not much to ask from somebody
You matter to me
I promise you do, you, you matter too
I promise you do, you'll see?
You matter to me…
As the last note left my lips Ace leaned in and kissed me softly. He rested his forehead on mine and whispered, "You matter to me too."
I laughed lightly but felt a tear fall down my cheek as I reached up to hold his face in my hands. I kissed him again but fiercely this time. He just held me and kissed me back.
When he picked me up so I was sitting on his lap with one of my legs on either side of his, I froze. "Wait, wait. There's something else I need to say."
He let his hands fall off of me and leaned back on his elbows. Then he looked up at me and said, "Ok."
I carefully stood up and leaned against the wall in front of him. I took a shaky breath before saying, "Ace, you matter more to me than anyone has in a very, very long time. I-"
I love you
"- I trust you. An- and I- I want to- I want to do more with you." I paused and took a shuddering breath. "I want to- have sex with you. But it's not that easy for me. And I'm terrified that I'll lose you if I don't- if I don't do something about this."
Ace sat up and leaned forward on his knees. Then he said, "Ok. Do you want to tell me what's going on? You don't have to, Ari. I don't have a problem-"
"NO! I'm sick and tired of hiding from this! I hate letting that fucker have so much control over my life! I'M SICK OF IT! I-"
I love you
"-I want to do this. And in order to do that, I have to tell you why I have such a problem with you touching me. Why I freeze up the second you touch my bare skin. Why I can't stand going into the cargo hold of a ship. I have to get this out of me before it strangles me and ruins what we have together."
"Alright."
"I- I- I've only ever told my sisters about this. They're the only ones in the whole world who know. And they don't even know the full story. I'm going to tell you what I am going to tell you, and that's it. Please don't ask questions or for anything else. Please Ace. Don't."
"Ari you're starting to scare me."
"Just promise me you won't ask any questions. Please."
"Ari I-"
"Ace please."
"Alright. No questions." He said.
I looked in his eyes for a minute before nodding slightly. Then I took a deep breath.
I can't believe I'm saying this.
"When I was younger, I sailed on a ship. That ship had only a very few women on it and- it would often be at sea for a very long time. There also was one man on that ship who- he-" I had to pause and look up at the ceiling to stop my tears from falling. "He didn't like any of the other women on the ship. But he thought I was pretty. So- so- so- he- he- um- he would use me instead. I- I said no. I ALWAYS said no. But he- he didn't care. He didn't care that I was too young, and he didn't care that I said no. He- he- just- he just took what he wanted. But I said no." I broke off with a gasping sob. My knees gave out, and I felt myself falling, but Ace caught me. He held me in my arms and let me sob against him. I could feel him shaking slightly, but he just rubbed my back and held me.
After a minute, I got myself together enough to pull away from him. I wiped my face on my shirt sleeves and then hesitantly looked up at him. His jaw was clenched, and he was looking away from me.
"A- A- Ace?"
"Tell me he's dead."
"Ace-"
"Ariadne he better be fucking dead or so help me I will slaughter everyone in my path to get to him."
"Ace you promised." I whispered.
Ace jumped up and started pacing while shouting, "THAT WAS BEFORE YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU WERE- THAT- THAT-" He roared and punched the wall near the door, leaving a large hole.
"Don't you think I want to kill him? Why do you think I have been training so much for all these years? Why do you think I'm so obsessed with getting stronger? With not having a single weakness?" I shouted before pausing. Then I took a breath and said, "I told you so that I can forget. That piece of shit doesn't deserve to have me think about him anymore. I hate him. But more than that, I just want to forget. I hate that any time someone touches me, his hands are the ones that I feel. I hate that I hear his laugh every time I hear waves hit the sides of a ship. I HATE IT. And trust me I WILL get my revenge. But for right now, what I want is new memories. I'm tired of letting him control my life."
I stood up shakily and walked over to Ace. I rested my hands and forehead on his back and whispered, "I'm scared. I'm always so scared. I don't want to be scared anymore. I- I want to live. I want to feel alive. I want you to give me new memories. Better ones."
I don't want to lose you...
I pressed a kiss to his back as more tears slid down my cheeks. I felt Ace take a deep breath before he turned around and hugged me to him. He buried his hand and face in my hair and whispered, "Ok."
When I woke up, night had fallen and Ace was still asleep. I carefully moved out from under his arm and climbed out of the bed. I picked up his shirt from the floor and put it on to cover my body. Then I walked across the floor to sit in the window sill. I pulled my legs up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I rested my head on my knees and looked out the window just talking in the scene of Water 7.
Well Ari you did it. You actually did it. And it was…
Awkward
Messy
Uncomfortable
And…
I paused in my thoughts to look over at Ace's sleeping form.
And it was perfect.
I smiled to myself and just watched Ace sleep.
He is so beautiful…
He's so kind, generous, caring, loving-
Oh right.
I guess this is called love isn't it?
I love him…
I really love him…
Never thought that would happen…
I watched Ace for a little while longer before he started to stir. He reached around the spot that I had been laying in before jerking up and looking around the room. Once he spotted me in the window sill he looked at me and said, "Hey."
I couldn't hold in my laugh as I said, "Hey."
He sat up fully and pulled the blankets up to cover himself as he tried to rub the sleep from his face. Then he asked, "Have you been up long?"
"Not too long."
"Mm mkay. Whatcha doin?" He asked sleepily.
"Just thinkin about stuff."
"Wha kinda stuff." He yawned.
How much I love you…
"Just stuff."
I love you
"Are you feeling ok?"
I love you
I smiled and got up from my spot. I walked back over to the bed and sat next to him. "I'm good. Not perfect. But good. Happy." I said.
I love you
Ace lifted his hand to seemingly touch my hair before lowering it again and saying, "That's good."
I love you
"Yea it is." I said while putting my arms around his shoulders and kissing him. "Do you want to cuddle?"
I love you
"Sure. Just let me grab my shorts." He said awkwardly before standing up and looking around the floor. Once he found his underwear he pulled them on and climbed back onto the bed. We got under the covers and snuggled up in each other's arms.
I love you
"This is nice." I whispered against his chest.
I love you
"Yea it is." He whispered back.
I love you
"Thank you Ace."
I love you
"Any time Air." He said.
I love you so much…
Please don't leave me…
I need you...
Warnings:
Again there are memories of childhood sexual assault and their aftermath being discussed in this chapter. Should you wish to skip this section then you'll want to stop reading after the third line break when it says "When he picked me up so that I was sitting on his lap with one of my legs on either side of his I froze. "Wait wait. There's something else I need to say."" Then if you wish you can start reading again at the next line break which starts with "When I woke up, night had fallen and Ace was still asleep. I carefully moved out from under his arm and climbed out of the bed."
Summary of skip-able section: Basically here Ari tells Ace about what happened to her in very vague terms. All she says is that she was assaulted in the past but nothing more than that. She does not say by who or where or how old she was when it happened. Then she tells him that she wants to sleep with him and he agrees.
Also sorry if you were looking forward to some smut but for obvious reasons it didn't feel right to write it out here. Maybe I'll write some later but I don't know.